Nevada County picayune., 1887-03-23
GEO. P. SMOOTH.


 The blocky figure; pleasant face aud deep bass voice Of Judge George P. Smoote are familiar to many people of Washington and Hempstcad county. A resident of Nevada county at present he was formerly and for d number of years d respected citizen ot Wasiington. This was Tn his young days. Smoote came to Ar kansas about the year 1850. If l mistake not he accompanied the late Edv ard W. Can't to the State, both coming from Columbia coun ty, Tenn. He first settled and practiced law in Arkadelphla, Clark coanty, as did also Can't, From there he removed to Wash ington where he lived several years. Two or three years before the war he located in the then thriving town of Magnolia, COlum- bia county, where he built up d lucrative practice, snd where he continued to reside until in recent years, when he settled at Pres colt. The late Judge George w. McCown was for several years his partner in practice. Smoote gave promise, when a young man, of making a successful lawyer. He was brigbt-minded and keen-wit- ted, and applied himself closely to his studies. am glad to know the promise has been made good. He served with credit through the late war, having been an efficient officer on the staff of Maj. Gen. McCown, a brother ot the Judge. He was always a genial, compan- ionable man. He was also man who paid his debts aud honorable in all his transactions traits which deserve success, if they do not always, in the degenerate days, command It.
 Apropos of the subject of Smoote paying his debts, l have heard a good story, which illustrates his bent in that direction.
 Like nearly every young South ron who answered the call of his country when the clash ot arms came in 1861, and survived the per. iluus four years that followed, l, Smoote returned to his home al most penniless. and for a season had hard scratching to make ends meet. There was very little litiga- ton ln the courts, for the reason that the cyclone of war had left little in it's track that was worth going to law about, and, besides, there seemed to be a universal dis position to rub out old scores, for get old disputes, and begin life anew. To the people were left their houses and lands, it is true. but with slavery swept away, the iron heel of tine military conquer or upon the neck of the pr0strate common wealth, and society iii a state of chaos, these were hardly worth liugating over. So one can readily perceive that of all the professions, trades and vacations of life, the law, in the first few months following the surrender, presented the most discouraglng held in which to tarn an honest penny in the South. Smoote, with the rest of his brother profession als, fell into bad lines, lived upon hope and whatever he could Dor TOW, and waited for the time when neighbors would renew their old disputes, quarrels and litigations. He didn't have to wait long. Not many months after his ruturn from the glory fields of war, he was called over to Lewisville to plead a case in the Lafayette circuit court. He won the case, and his client astunished him by handing him fifty dollar greenback on the spot. The fee was d good deal more than this. but he did not dream of receiving more than S5 or SlO in cash, and it came near producing an attack of apopleXy when the bill was put in his hand. It was more money than he had seen for months, and the first he had earn ed since the day Lee and Grant had their famous convention under the Appomattox apple tree.
 ITpou the occasion of which l write Smoote aud the late Judge McCown were guests of Maj. Brooks, who kept the only hostel. ry in Lewisville, occupying a room together. After tea that evening, as they sat before n cheerful lire, Smoote inserted a thumb and ih. dex finger in one of his vest pock- cts, as he had been doing at Inter vafs of every hour or so since re- ceiving the bill, and to make sure that it was not all a dream, and that his wealth was still with him. This time he drew 1t forth, held it up before his eyes, and triumph anily waving it before the envions gaze of McCown.
 "McCown,n he exclaimed, gaze npon that and weep!'
 "Great heavens! Where did you get that. Smootes Where did you find it?'
 "I received it for pleading and winning that ease to day, and am ,,o,nienn stIll more Y
 "Well, you are in big luck, sure v Rut | would caution you